Innholdsfortegnelse for Small Space Harvests 2024 i BBC Gardeners' World

The taste of a delicious harvest is within easy reach, and it doesn’t matter how much space you can dedicate to growing. Whether it’s a small patch of ground, a windowbox or a pot on your doorstep, it’s possible to enjoy fresh pickings from even the tiniest plot. From juicy tomatoes, picked straight from the vine, to zingy salads and sweet strawberries, you’ll be surprised how easy it is to savour the flavour of homegrown. There’s the chance to save £££s on shop-bought produce too, with just a few veg seeds rewarding you with months of pickings for very little cost. Growing your own is also good for the environment and, as you tuck into a meal prepared with freshly harvested ingredients, you’ll know it’s only travelled from plot (however…

Blueberries Blueberries are perfect for tiny gardens because they thrive in pots of ericaceous compost. They provide not only tasty summer fruit, but spring flowers and glowing autumn colour. When planting a large blueberry plant, use a pot that is at least 45cm in diameter; 60cm if you have space. Plant Jan-Dec Harvest Jul-Sep Apples In a small garden, choose an apple tree that has a dwarfing rootstock. Apples and pears can also be trained as espaliers, fans or cordons to take up less room, or standard trees can be grown in a large pot. If you only have room for one, choose a self-fertile variety such as ‘James Grieve’. Plant Nov-Mar Harvest Sep-Nov Blackcurrants These plants are easy to grow and the berries are rich in Vitamin C. Grow…

Pretty petite Broad beans will thrive in containers if you choose compact varieties. The pods can be eaten young or left to mature so you can enjoy the beans. From March, sow six to eight seeds. Compact varieties include ‘Stratissa’ or ‘The Sutton’. To prevent blackfly and help the pods swell, pinch out the shoot tips. We used Broad bean ‘Statissa’ x 6, terracotta pot, 30cm Climbing cucumber You don’t need a greenhouse to grow cucumbers if you choose a variety that is suited to growing outside in pots. This climbing cucumber provides juicy fruit and grows up a rustic wigwam. Grow one cucumber per 40cm pot and make sure it’s deep enough to hold firm supports. We used Cucumber ‘Marketmore’, trailing bellflower, pot, 40cm (width) Dynamic duo Sweet alyssum…

Chillies There’s a huge range of chillies to choose from and many compact varieties that will be happy in small pots. Chillies benefit from conditions indoors because they will only survive, and produce a large amount of ripe fruit, in the very warmest areas outdoors. Keep the compost moist, never wet, and feed regularly. You’ll be able to enjoy a fiery crop from a sunny windowsill. Salads Try growing mini salads on your windowsill. Choose cut-and-come-again mixes for a steady supply of baby leaves. Salad leaves don’t need a deep pot so are ideal for growing in shallow containers that won’t take up too much space. Sow a new tray every few weeks so that there are fresh new plants ready to harvest as soon as the old ones come…

Grow a fruit medley Raised beds are not just for veg and fruit such as strawberries, raspberries and gooseberries as well as currants, will all thrive grown in this way. You will have to replace strawberries after a few years, but you can pot up the runners to make new plants. When combining fruit, work out how much space each plant needs. Go big on salad It’s so easy to grow your own supply of salad, even when space is limited. Just one square metre of earth is enough for you to be picking crunchy lettuces, peppery radishes and tangy Oriental leaves to feed a family through to the end of the year. You can grow salads all year, making them the perfect crop for beginners. Raise up for easy…

1 WATER REGULARLY The soil in containers such as gutters or pocket planters is shallow so keep an eye on how dry the compost is getting, especially during hot summer weather. Water frequently to keep it moist. 2 PUT UP A WIGWAM FOR CLIMBING VEG If you don’t have fence space for climbing veg, build a wigwam of poles or canes. It will add height and privacy. Space them out evenly in a circle. Tie the tops of the canes together with string or garden wire. Wind bean shoots onto canes for support and tie in place with soft string. 3 CHOOSE STANDARD FRUIT BUSHES FOR BORDERS Instead of standard ‘lollipop’ box trees, grow gooseberries as standards instead. In summer they will make an attractive feature with the added bonus…

Training allows you to grow fruit trees in the tiniest of gardens, from apples, pears and plums to cherries, figs and quinces. Start with a young tree on a semi-dwarfing rootstock, so it won’t outgrow its space – or just buy a ready-trained tree. Espaliers (for apples and pears) and fans (for stone fruit including cherries and plums) need at least 3.75m – roughly two average sized fence panels – per tree. For really tight spaces, go for cordons – single stems planted 75cm apart and grown vertically, or at 45 degrees. Make each plant a different variety to aid pollination and you can grow an orchard of trees on a single stretch of fencing. Every wall and fence is a fruit-growing opportunity, allowing you to grow fruit while taking…

Planting out seedlings Gently ease each seedling from its pot, or plug (if you’re using plug plants) with your fingers or a pencil, making sure the rootball stays intact. Make a channel in the soil, then immediately plant each seedling at the same depth it was in the pot or tray. Firm the soil back around them then water generously. Planting up containers Plant smaller veg 10-15cm apart, but give large plants such as tomatoes and courgettes a container to themselves. Don’t be afraid to plant several types of other veg in one large pot. If you’re growing climbing beans up a wigwam, use the space around the base for lettuces, or sow beetroot, chard and herbs to make use of the space. Harden off seedlings Plants started off under…

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Basil You don’t need much space to grow basil. As long as you have a sunny windowsill you can grow a plant in a small pot and keep it going through the summer. Or transplant seedlings into a larger pot outside once the weather has warmed up in early summer, and keep it well watered in a sunny spot. Sow Feb-Apr Harvest Jun-Sep Bay This might seem like a strange choice for a small space, but bay can be grown as a standard, or clipped into a ball, and grown in a large container. It also makes an attractive tree in the border or either side of a front door, and its leaves are useful year-round in the kitchen, both fresh and dried. Plant Mar-Jul Harvest Year round Coriander Both…

High rise salads Plant young lettuces into a hanging basket for regular salad pickings from a small space. Pick leaf-by-leaf as you need it, to keep the harvest going. Good partners for lettuce in a basket include chives and spring onions. We used Lettuce ‘Cos’; chives, hanging basket, 30cm Scents of style This selection of sun-loving herbs and tender plants in a large rattan basket creates a sensory tangle of tactile leaves crying out to be rubbed to release their aromas. The flowers will also gently waft their perfume through the warm summer air. We used Heliotrope ‘Baby Blue’ x 2, Heliotrope ‘White Lady’ x 2, Pelargonium ‘Deerwood Lavender Lass’ x 1, trailing winter savory x 3, variegated thyme x 1, variegated lemon thyme x 1, Nemesia ‘Lady Penelope’ x…

YOUR SPRING PLOT Start sowing in spring and in a couple of months your bed will be a mix of quick-growing veg, to be picked this season, and slower ones for summer harvests What’s in your plot The aim is to get as big a harvest as possible and to keep the plot productive through the year. All the quick crops can be sown direct, while the veg for summer should be sown and grown on under cover for planting in late spring, after the frosts. You can sow speedy radish and lettuce in the places where you’re going to plant the tomatoes, courgettes and beans. Grow tall crops, such as cordon tomatoes and climbing beans, at the north end of the plot so that any shade is cast away…

Climbing crops Look for climbing varieties of traditional crops to make the most of every space. Instead of taking up room on the patio with a courgette in a pot, why not trying a climbing variety such as ‘Black Forest’ or ‘Floridor’? If you don’t have ground space for crops or need more space, using a trellis is a great solution because its open framework makes tying in stems easy. Put up shelving If you want an impressive crop of strawberries, troughs are a good option and can be elevated to waist height for easy picking. This type of trough could also be used for salads, carrots and leafy greens such as spinach. If you place them against a sunny wall or fence, troughs can be used to create a…

WATER REGULARLY ■ Containers Container veg may need watering every day in summer – sometimes twice if it’s sunny and hot. Don’t be tempted to skip watering on rainy days: rain often just dampens the surface of containers without soaking in. To check, stick your finger into the compost, and if it feels dry underneath, water as usual. Keeping the compost evenly moist helps the plants to grow steadily and averts problems such as bolting and blossom end rot. Water in the evening or early morning to prevent hot sun scorching water-splashed leaves and fruits. Put a saucer under each pot to catch runoff, which can be re-absorbed. Remove the saucers in rainy spells. ■ Veg beds Regular watering is essential for crops in the ground too, but it’s important…

Try companion planting Planting crops among flowers can help to foil pests, attract pollinators and make plants stronger. Though evidence for the benefits of ‘companion planting’ is largely anecdotal, many combinations make good sense. Tuck the right flowers, herbs and other edibles around your veg in the garden or in containers for healthy plants and bumper harvests. For example, French marigolds (Tagetes patula) and basil give off a distinctive smell that whitefly hate – so planting them under tomatoes, especially in a greenhouse, could help keep this pest at bay. Carrot flies can zero in on a crop with one sniff of crushed foliage. Grow pungent crops such as leeks, to act as a barrier. Remove aphids Aphids include blackfly, greenfly and woolly aphids. They suck sap from leaves and…

Broad beans Choose varieties with attractive flowers, such as ‘Crimson Flowered’ if you want to fit veg in gaps around ornamental plants in the flower bed, or dwarf varieties such as ‘The Sutton’ if you want to grow broad beans in a container. Choose a tall pot because broad beans have deep root systems. Sow Jan-Apr Harvest May-Aug Beetroot In a small space, these roots can be sown closely together and harvested as small, golf-ball size crops. This also results in tender, tasty roots. Try globe types that produce good baby beetroots, such as ‘Pablo’. Beetroot is easy to grow in containers or raised beds and you can also harvest the leaves. Sow Mar-Jul Harvest May-Oct Bush tomatoes Compact bush varieties are best for a small garden or patio pots.…

1 SAVE TIME AND SPACE If you’re short on space, choose varieties that are easy to sow direct when the weather warms up, or use plug plants. Growing from seed is best for crops that don’t like being transplanted, such as carrots and radishes. Most leafy veg grow readily from seed, so it’s an easy and cheap option but buying plugs or young plants is handy for frost tender crops, such as tomatoes, peppers and aubergines that need a long growing season and must be started under cover. 2 CHOOSE THE RIGHT POT Containers come in many different materials, so weigh up the pros and cons of price, weight and thickness. Roots tend to get too hot or cold in thin pots, particularly metal ones. Terracotta pots or wooden containers…

Sunny spot Shrubby Mediterranean herbs love to bake in sunshine, in gritty soil. This is a fragrant pot of evergreens so you’ll get pickings all year round. After a few years these plants will need a bigger pot or to be transferred to the garden. We used Rosemary x 1, purple sage x 1, winter savory x 1, terracotta pot, 45cm Table topper This shallow pot combines a scented pelargonium and a pretty thyme. The leaves of the pelargonium can be used to scent sugar for baking. The lime-green, lemon-scented thyme is a great addition to many dishes. We used Pelargonium ‘Odorata Pino’ x 1, thyme ‘Archer’s Gold’ x 2, terracotta pot, 25cm Cold & exposed Ground-hugging herbs cope well in exposed spots. These herbs are unfussy and easy to grow.…

Gooseberry Compact gooseberries are very productive plants in pots. Best grown in a sunny, sheltered spot, they will still fruit in shade. These plants are prone to powdery mildew, caused by overcrowding and poor air circulation, as well as insufficient watering. Keep well watered and watch out for sawfly, too. Pot size 30cm wide Recommended varieties ‘Greenfinch’, ‘Invicta’ Blueberry Blueberries need acid soil, which is easy to provide in a pot. Hybrid half-high forms grow up to 1.2m tall and are good for containers. Plant into pots of ericaceous compost in a sunny spot. Keep compost moist and water with rainwater if possible. Tap water gradually neutralises the compost. Pot size 30cm wide Recommended varieties ‘Ozarkblue’, ‘Duke’ Fig Figs are perfect for pots as they fruit better with their roots…

1 MAKE A PLANTING PLAN Aim to grow taller plants in the middle and tumbling veg at the edges to help you reach your crops easily. This also means you don’t need to step on the raised bed, which can compact the soil. As you harvest, top up the soil to prevent the soil level of your bed dropping. 2 CHOOSE THE RIGHT LOCATION Location is key to a good yield, as low light levels will limit which crops you can grow. Make sure that raised beds are somewhere that will get roughly six to eight hours of good sunlight most days. Watch where the light falls in your garden and then check that the area you choose will also get enough rain. Cover your raised bed and you’ll be…

SOWING UNDER COVER ■ Sow small seeds such as basil and tomatoes into seed trays filled with seed compost, then cover with a fine layer of compost or vermiculite. When they have their first set of true leaves, prick out into 8cm pots filled with peat-free multi-purpose compost. ■ For larger seeds, such as courgettes, cucumber and beans, fill 8cm pots with multi-purpose compost. Press two seeds into the compost to twice their depth. If both germinate, remove the weaker one. Raise seedlings somewhere protected through spring and summer and grow them on in pots so you can drop them into your big containers or raised beds whenever gaps appear. Pot on seedlings Crops such as tomatoes and chillies will need potting on several times when growing indoors. When the…

SNIP OFF YOUR CROPS You can usually pull crops off a plant, but sometimes this can damage the plant. To be extra careful, remove beans and tomatoes with scissors. Beans and peas should be picked frequently to encourage further crops and they’re much tastier when small. Pea and broad bean pods are ready when they have swollen. Harvest courgettes with a knife, cutting the stem 3cm above the top of the fruit. Harvest young root veg Carefully remove the soil from around swollen roots to see if they are ready to harvest, then pull out carefully so that the whole plant comes out and the vegetable isn’t damaged. Pull beetroot and turnips when golf-ball size; harvest radishes and carrots when they are the thickness of your thumb. Early potatoes are…

Q Why have my runner beans produced a poor crop? A A lack of moisture can seriously reduce crop size, causing flowers to drop off prematurely and pods to grow poorly. So, when preparing the ground for your crop before planting, incorporate lots of organic matter, which helps to retain moisture. If possible, and especially in dry spells, water the plants every evening. Poor pollination could be to blame too, so try growing sweet peas next to your beans to attract more insects. Also, don’t be too eager to get your plants off to an early start. If they flower before the weather warms up, pollinators may be in short supply. Finally, do give climbing French beans a try, because they crop more reliably than runners in hot, dry conditions.…